Toyz Go 'Round toy library helps kids to play in Zeeland

A new Zeeland ministry, Toyz Go ‘Round, has opened its doors at His Harvest Stand located at City on a Hill Ministries in Zeeland. The ministry, a "toy-lending library" will be a place for clients of His Harvest Stand to borrow toys for their young children to play with.

A new Zeeland ministry, Toyz Go ‘Round, has opened its doors at His Harvest Stand located at City on a Hill Ministries in Zeeland. The ministry, a "toy-lending library" will be a place for clients of His Harvest Stand to borrow toys for their young children to play with.

The not-for-profit venture is the brain-child of Mardella Hoffman, a member of First Reformed Church in Zeeland. The hope is to provide joy to families with kindergarten-age children or younger who may not have many (or any) toys.

"I had heard about toy-lending libraries and it seemed like, over the last few years, God has been putting it on my heart to start one here," Hoffman said.

The project officially began in August, when Hoffman spoke with her pastor and wrote a proposal to City on a Hill to request space to run the ministry.

Hoffman spoke with two friends, Donna Kiel and Hazel Kuyper to see if they were interested in helping her run the ministry.

"She told me about her vision and asked if I would be willing to help out and to work with the ministry. I just prayed about it and felt that it was a thing I'd like to do," Kiel said.

Toyz Go 'Round has so far collected more than 150 toys for the library. When the toys are collected, they are cleaned, sanitized and given a number.

"We have a sign-out sheet. They fill out their address, children's names and ages," Hoffman said. "When you sign out the toy, you write down the description and the number."

Children can "check out" up to two toys for as long as a month.

Kuyper said they are still taking and new used toy donations to continue expanding the lending library.

Toyz Go 'Round is within the complex of His Harvest Stand on the east side of City on a Hill, 100 Pine Ave., Door D and is open 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Wednesday. Toyz Go 'Round is a service offered for clients of His Harvest Stand. To become a client, sign up at the front desk.